Before the advent of the WVL-N Project, the Community Need Care Development Initiative (CONCED) had been actively participating in election monitoring and had comprehensive data on election results. The data from the 2019 election revealed that men dominated all elected seats in Kwara State. In that election, 35 seats were contested, and all were won by men. Despite women voters constituting approximately 50% of the electorate, no women were elected. This disparity prompted CONCED to prioritize women’s participation in politics as one of the three thematic areas in the WVL-N project.
Through the Women’s Voice and Leadership project, CONCED has significantly impacted Kwara State and the lives of women politicians. The organization advocated and sensitized communities, party executives, the House of Assembly, market women, schools (both secondary and higher institutions), and even the streets to increase women’s participation in politics and elective and appointive positions. Continuous radio jingles, billboards, and strong media engagements supported their advocacy efforts. CONCED also provided intensive training and empowerment for women and women aspirants, ensuring they were well-informed and prepared. Additionally, they printed campaign posters for female candidates to support them in kind. This concerted effort resulted in notable successes, with three women, Hon. Maryam Aladi, Hon. Olatundun Alanamu, and Hon. Arinola Lawal, winning seats as Honorable members of the House of Assembly in the last general election. Hon. Maryam Aladi expressed her gratitude, saying, “My gratitude goes to CONCED and their donors for their support for me in my campaign and every woman. May God continue to bless them and their organization.
